7 Gifts You’re Better Off Buying Thrifted

The holiday season is here, and while its festiveness is infectious, it can also put a serious strain on your budget. Between shopping for loved ones to finding something for that White Elephant exchange, a gift list can grow long in no time. And that’s exactly where heading to the thrift store can be handy.

Thrift shopping can take more time than adding to cart and shipping directly to your door with a single click, but if you’re up to the task, you can find hidden gems that will spark so much joy and make excellent gifts. “You really have to think about the recipient and what they might like,” says Willow Wright, owner of Urban Redeux in Alexandria, Virginia. Of course, you’re limited to what your local charity shop offers, but that’s part of the fun. “If you get your creative brain working, you can usually put together a great gift that’s sure to be one of a kind,” Wright adds.

Wright recommends shying away from gifts that could breed disappointment, such as potentially faulty electronics or an opened puzzle that could be missing pieces. However, lots of other items are fair game, and some things are even better bought secondhand. So, if you’re up for the treasure hunt, here are seven of the best holiday gift ideas you’ll find at your local thrift store.

Reyne Hirsch, co-owner of Dallas Auction Gallery in Texas, recommends looking for vintage dinnerware and stemware, especially because you can scan for period styles, such as Art Deco and mid-century modern pieces. “You can find a lot of great colors, patterns, and styles that would fit anyone’s decorating taste for a fraction of what you would have to pay if purchased new,” she says. 

If you know someone who enjoys mixology, vintage statement glasses can add interest to their bar cart (think: Depression Glass or uranium glass). Pair your finds with locally produced spices, sauces, or spirits to further personalize the gift. You can also look specifically for original versions of certain brands — like Pyrex, Tupperware, and Lenox, to name a few — that people know and love in their vintage editions. 

In Wright’s eyes, thrift store bookshelves are easy to pass over, but they’re a treasure trove for gift-giving. “Don’t overlook the book section,” she says. “From beautiful coffee-table books to bestsellers, you can gift a book to everyone in your family for under $20.” 

Niche, rare, or out-of-print books on art, history, or travel are often abundant at secondhand stores. Some titles, such as The Grapes of Ralph, which I put on my Christmas thrift list, are great crossover books that focus on more than one topic (in this case, wine, art, and travel) if you’re in a quandary.

Although wading through piles of jewelry at thrift stores can be frustrating and sometimes unfruitful, I have one pro tip to help you find true gems — head to charity shops. I often find that folks donate quality items at shops that give back to their local community. I have purchased 14k gold and sterling pieces in addition to quality non-precious pieces. 

“You would be surprised at the volume of real jewelry that turns up at estate sales and thrift stores,” Hirsch says. The bonus is that although many shops recognize these items as valuable (but often don’t), they price pieces so reasonably that they’re still a steal compared with shopping at a traditional jewelry store.

Whether your recipient is an avid collector or you happen to spot the perfect piece you’d never find in a big box store, keep your eyes peeled for beautiful decor items. Hirsch says blown glass vases, pottery pieces, and vintage pillows are easy to find. “If the gift recipient is into home decor, you can find some great pieces, typically for under $50,” she says. 

Wall art could be ideal if you know your recipient’s style well enough. Although the chances of finding a well-known artist are slim, thrift stores still have many lovely originals and prints. Hirsch says, “You can find some wonderful artwork by lesser-known artists that have been donated as people move.”

Sometimes, you can pair a thrifted item with something else to elevate your gift-giving. One of Wright’s personal favorites is to find a beautiful silk scarf to wrap around the neck of a wine or champagne bottle. Add an ornament (a simple find at secondhand shops) to finish off a beautiful host gift. 

You can also use a silk scarf instead of paper to creatively wrap smaller gifts, such as books or boxed jewelry. To elevate your search, select a patterned scarf in a color scheme you can picture the recipient wearing and look for hand-rolled hems instead of frayed edging.

Candles are a suitable gift for so many folks — teachers, neighbors, hosts — and finding them unburned at the thrift store is possible. I always pick them up and add them to my gift closet when I find better-known brands. 

“Glass candles that haven’t been burned are usually in abundance and are great for last-minute gifts,” Wright says. Consider holiday scents, but also select year-round fragrances, as the recipient may not want to burn a balsam fir candle after they take their Christmas tree down. Taper candles also make lovely gifts when accompanied by brass or glass candleholders, all of which are readily available at thrift stores.

In addition to scarves, plenty of other things are tucked throughout secondhand shops that you can use to accentuate gifts or fit inside a gift basket. “Thrift stores are great places to pick up gifts, especially if you’re putting together a gift basket or bundle,” Wright says. 

She frequents the textiles department for dish towels, many of which are new with tags. You can also find holiday-related ornaments to adorn packages or wreaths and garlands that you can deconstruct wreaths to add after gift wrapping. Finish with a festive ribbon (which you can also find secondhand), and just like that, a plain package becomes a beautiful gift.